This article was published on November 28th, 2019
December is right around the corner, and so is a very important day in the lives of queer people: World AIDS Day. December 1 marks World AIDS Day. It is important to stand up, educate, be a vocal advocate and do something to help bring about real chance in the fight against this world-wide epidemic that has already killed 28 million people. This World AIDS Day: make a difference.
Originally created in 1987, World AIDS Day was created during the height of the AIDS and HIV crisis that ravaged nations and almost killed an entire generation of gay people. Conceived by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two were public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva. They took their idea to the Director of the Global Programme on AIDS, now known as UNAIDS, Dr. Jonathan Mann, who approved their idea and designated the first World AIDS Day on December 1, 1988.
The idea behind World AIDS Day is to bring an annual day of attention to the HIV and AIDS crisis, shed like on the new medical advances in fighting the virus, and bring awareness to the 28 million who have died and 40 million living with the disease today.
Get involved this World AIDS Day.
- Wear a red shirt or red ribbon and talking about HIV and AIDS is a great start.
- Make a financial donation to one of the many credible organizations on the forefront of the fight: AMFAR, UNAIDS, among many others.
- Post about it to your social channels. Openly talk about the disease will help reduce stigma.
- If you are HIV negative, get on PrEP and talk about HIV with your sexual partners.
- Get tested. The best way to inevitable irradiate AIDS and HIV forever is by keeping those who are negative, negative, and keeping those who are undetectable with a non-transferable viral load.
This year, instead of just simply adding a red twibbon to your social media profile picture or Instagram stories, be proactive and do something to help your fellow gay brethren. Together, we need to stand up and conquer HIV and AIDS.
For more information about what you can do and where you can donate this World AIDS Day 2019, visit: www.worldaidsday.org.
